Perennial leftist gadfly Ralph Nader is preparing to tilt at yet another windmill with another presidential run. Added to the prospects of third-party challenges by well-funded pseudo-libertarian R0n Paul and/or self-funded moderate Michael Bloomberg, this presents the possibility of an outright circus in the 2008 general election that may eclipse even the carnival atmosphere of the primaries.

The increasing pervasiveness of the Internet and the closely divided playing field between the major parties may be what is causing the increasing prominence of fringe candidates. The rise of the Internet allows formerly isolated cranks, malcontents, and members of tin-foil-hat brigades to come together into passionate brigades of slogan-spouting ideologues (which readers of comment sections have come to know all too well). And the tight division between the major parties offers the possibility that even marginal candidates might be able to play spoiler, exaggerating their true influence and taking vengeance upon major parties that their supporters see as corrupt and self-serving.

2008 may be shaping up to be a mess than makes 2000 look like a political blip.